More firepower for the good guys

Sheriff allows use of semiautomatic rifles on patrols

AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, once used only by specially trained deputies, now are a voluntary option for those on regular patrol.

"To have a fair advantage over the criminals, we felt we needed to level the playing field," said Sheriff Ken Jenne, who leads the department that covers the Central Broward district, and Deerfield Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-sea, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, Pompano Beach and Tamarac, among other cities.

Deputies must buy their own rifles to use for duty, then sign up for a free, two-day, 16-hour training course. They have four rifle models to choose from, at a cost of about $800.

This is the first time the Sheriff's Office is offering this course, the need becoming more apparent with cases such as the Sept. 14 incident where two masked men with assault rifles held up a Washington Mutual bank in Tamarac. The two are part of a trio linked to other bank robberies in Broward and Palm Beach counties, according to the FBI.

"It's equal to the firepower that's out there," said Deputy D.J. Acosta, of the Weston district. "We have been waiting for this for a long time."

The Sheriff's Office recently finished its eighth class. The training is designed to give deputies the best tools and knowledge to protect themselves and the public, Jenne said.

Day 1 is inside the classroom, learning about the rifle parts, operation and maintenance. About 20 deputies, ranging from novice rifle shooters to those with several years of military service, make up a class.

Day 2 takes place at the Markham Park Target Range in Sunrise. On a recent Friday, the bangs of gunfire, the smell of gunpowder and hundreds of casings on the ground were proof of serious training.

Deputies practiced shooting from four positions: standing, kneeling, sitting and prone or on their bellies.

Each deputy had to take five shots in 15 or 20 seconds, depending on the drill.

"Cease-fire!"

Once the line of fire was clear, the drill over, deputies went out to get their targets and see where their shots had landed.

Deputies must pass a written exam and obtain an 80 percent accuracy rate for 20 rounds of shots in the four shooting positions.

More than 150 deputies have been trained since late September and are patrolling with rifles.

One of the trainers, Capt. Jim Polan, Sheriff's Office SWAT team commander, referenced a 1997 shootout in Hollywood, Calif., where rifles could have come in handy. Police fired 500 rounds of shots from their handguns during the 44-minute gunfight, but couldn't penetrate the robbers' safety armor.

"[This] solves the problem when the criminal wears body armor. The rifles can penetrate the body armor," Polan said.

Basic training will continue through 2007, and there are plans to offer advanced training.

Deputy Keith Ierubino, of the Dania Beach district, has served with the Sheriff's Office for 10 years and welcomes the new rifle option.

"It's something we need, to deal with the bad guys," said Ierubino, who finds the expense well worth it. "I'd rather keep it for 15 years and never use it, than need it one day and not have it."

Nicole T. Lesson can be reached at nlesson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7920.